Automatic electric toaster



Oct. 19, 1948. B. G. OLVING 2,451,503

' AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed Nov. 22, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l I07 /03 v I IN V EN TOR. BR 0/ 6. 0L v/kva Oct. 19, 1948. B. G. OLVING 2,451 ,sos

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed Nov. 22. 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2- IN VEN TOR.

- BY 5R0 G. 04 who AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed NOV. 22, 1944 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

M9 f) -!0 BRO}? G. 01. v/iva Oct. 19, 1948. B. G. OLVING ,5

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TOAS'IIER Filed Nov. 22. 1944 5 Sheets-Shet 5 HOLDiNG FORCE B -A TiME' iN MiNu TES fie/74] INVENTORM BHOR 6.0L v/iva Patented Oct. 19, 1948 AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TOASTER Bror G. Olving, Elgin, Ill., assignor to McGraw 'ElectricCompany, Elgin,Ill., a corporation or Delaware Application November 22, 1944,:SerialNo. 564,622

3 Claims. 1

My invention relates to automatic electric toasters and particularly to electric timing. means for such toasters.

An object of my invention isto provide a timing means and an electric circuit therefor, which are dependable and which will stand up inservice for long periods of use.

Another object of my invention isto provide a timing means, the performance of which depends upon the inherent electrical characteristics of the component parts, and the operation of which is not dependent on or controlled by any .energy supplied from mechanical or thermal storage devices.

Another object of my invention is toprovide a timing means and an electric circuit therefor, including an electromagnetic differential relay to obtain the above mentioned performance.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a view in side elevation ofv an electric toaster embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation thereof, both Figs. 1 and 2 being shown on a reduced scale,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view through a toaster, having associated therewith a timing means embodying my invention, thisview being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 4 is a vertical, lateraLsectional viewtaken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, .horizontaLsectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is an end elevational View of the electric timing element,

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the timing elements, showing the parts mounted as a self-contained unit,

Fig. 8 is a diagram of circuits, comprising the elements shown in Fig. '7,

Fig. 9 is a modification of the diagram of Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 is a modification of the diagrams of Figs. 8 and 9, and,

Fig. 11 is a View showing a. graph of the values of the voltage, time and holding force for the elements of the timing device shown in Fig. .7.

Referring first ofall to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, I have there shown a standard two-slice toaster 2|, which comprises a base frame 23, which. may be preferably made of a molded composition material and which has mountedagainst its upper surface a preferably metallic base plate 25 land which also supports the body of an outer casing 27, the base plate 25 and the outer casing .21 being held in proper operativeposition byrany means now well known in the art. The casingis further provided with a top cover member 2-9,-

which is provided with two longitudinal openings 3 I to permit ,of inserting fresh slices of bread-into the toaster and of removing the toastedslices of bread therefrom aftera toasting operation.

I provide a pair of toasting chambers .33 inthe toaster casing 21, having ineach of these chambers a pair of planar toast heating. elements .35 comprising one or more sheets of thin electric; insulating material 31, suchasmica, on .whichis wound a strip 39 of a suitableresistance.material. The means of and method for holding the planar toast heating elements is old and well vknownlin the art and constitutes no part of my present invention. I provide a rear intermediate wallld-l, .whichmay be made of thin sheet metal, and a chambers are defined'by the inner heating .ele- 'ment 35,.an outer baflle plate 50- and by the-front andrear intermediate Walls 43 and-4 I.

I provide a bread carrier .5l in each of the toasting chambers, therear endportions of .which are adapted to extend through slots in the rear intermediate wall 4|, while the front portionsof the carriers are adapted to extend through slots .inthe front intermediate wall 43. The carriers are shownin full linesin Fig. 3 in their upper .or

non-toasting position, from which they may be moved downwardly into the position shown .by broken lines which is the lower or toasting-position. It is desired to normally yieldinglymaintain the carriers intheir upper or non-toasting position, and this-is effected by a spring53, the

.upper'end of which is connected to anbracket secured to the front intermediatewall 14.3, while the lower end thereof isconnected to a rearwardly extending lug 5'l, constituting va,part'oilarear carriageplate 59, to which the frontendiportions of the carriers 5| are secured. I providefurther a front carriageplate El and secure betweenthe front: and rear carriage plates four grooved rollers 63, one at each corner of the carriage ,plates. These rollers are adapted to engage with .the. inner surfaces of twogvertical standards .and ,-6 l,zt'he lower ends of .thesestandards beingheld by base 55. plates\25,1Whi1ethe upper ends extend through the front .endportions of .the top; frame. plates A! and of the cross bar 49. This permits of vertical movement of the bread carriers and of the carriage plates from the upper non-toasting position into a lower toasting position, and vice versa.

Means for causing downward movement of the bread carriers is provided by a knob 69 mounted on the forwardly projecting end of a bar II which is secured to the front carriage plate 6I.

Means for holding the bread carriers in their lower or toasting position, comprises a hook member I3 secured to the top end of a spring bar I5, the lower end of which is secured to a bracket 'II mounted on the upper surface of a plate I9, on which are mounted the parts of a timer to be hereinafter described. The hook member I3 is adapted to engage the bar II when the bar has been moved downwardly with the bread carriers.

A roller BI is rotatably mounted on a short bar 83 secured to the front surface of the front carriage plate 6| at the left hand side thereof. When the bread carriers are moved downwardly, roller 8I is adapted to engage the surface of a cam plate 85 which is secured against one side of a spring contact arm 81, which is biased out of engagement with a cooperating spring contact arm 89. The lower ends of contact arms 81 and 89 are fitted into slots in a block SI of electric-insulating material, which is also mounted on the upper surface of plate 19. Block 9I has, in addition to the two contact arms 81 and 89, mounted thereon in substantially the same way a second pair of normally disengaged spring contact arms 93 and 95, as well as a third pair of spring contact arms 91 and 99, the use of which will be hereinafter set forth. When roller 8| engages the contact surface of cam plate 85, it causes substantially simultaneous engagement of the pairs of disengaged contact arms by reason of a bar IOI of electric-insulating material having lugs interfitting with contact arms 81, 93, and 91.

I provide a control switch for the toast heating elements, which comprises a contact bridging member I 03 insulatedly mounted on a bracket I secured to the rear carriage plate 59 and adapted to engage with and be disengaged from a pair of fixed contact members I01 and I09, which are insulatedly mounted on and supported by the base plate 25. When the operator presses downwardly on knob 69 to cause downward movement of the bread carriers, contact bridging member I03 is adapted to engage with the fixed contacts I01 and I 09 to cause energization of the toast heating elements.

The timing means constituting my invention comprises a differential relay, which consists of a the upper or lower leg and has pivotally mounted thereon an armature core I 23, which is shown in Fig. 8 as having mounted thereon a hook member I3, but which is shown in Fig. 4 as being connected with hook member I3 by a lost motion connection I25, the resilient supporting bar I5 being normally biased in a clockwise direction. The design, construction, and adjustment of the resilient supporting bar I5 for hook member I3 and the lost motion connection I25 between the spring bar I5 and armature I23 are such that the armature core I23, which is not of straight shape but has two arm portions extending at less than 180 relatively to each other, has its lower arm normally biased, by the bar I5, into engagement with lower leg III of the differential relay structure. In this position hook member I3 will be engaged by bar II when carriage plate BI is in its lower toasting position.

Referring now to Fig. 8, I provide a potentiometer I3I which may have a resistance of 100 ohms and which is positioned so as to be either subject to heat from the heating chamber or to heat from the toast heating elements 39. One terminal of potentiometer I3I is connected to an A. C. supply circuit conductor I33, while the other end thereof is connected to one terminal of a resistor I35 having an ohmic resistance on the order of 1000 ohms, the other terminal of which is connected by a conductor I3I to a conductor I39, which connects one terminal of the resistors 39 to fixed contact I09. A second supply circuit conductor I is connected by a conductor I43 to the second fixed contact I01.

I provide a manually-adjustable contact arm I45 adapted to engage with any selected point on potentiometer I3 I, the fixed end of arm I45 being connected by a conductor I 41 to one terminal of coil I I5, the other terminal of which is connected by a conductor I49 to supply circuit conductor I33. It is therefore evident that when the main switch, comprising contacts I01 and I09 and contact bridging member I03, is closed, a current of adjustably predetermined value will traverse coil I I5, as will be hereinafter set forth.

I provide a full-wave dry-type rectifier I5I, comprising four individual rectifiers, so connected that each half cycle of an alternating current will be rectified therein. One terminal of the rectifier unit I5I is connected by a conductor I53 to conductor I49 and therefore to the supply circuit conductor I33. The opposite terminal of the rectifier unit is connected by a conductor I55 to contact arm 91, while the cooperating contact arm 99 is connected by a conductor I51 to conductor I43 and therefore to the second supply circuit conductor MI. The contact arms 91 and 99 therefore control the energization of the rectifier unit I5I, the two contact arms being moved into engagement with each other during a portion of the downward movement of the bread carriers into toasting position.

The rectified direct current passes say from the right hand corner of the unit through a conductor I59, to contact arm 95; while contact arm 93 is connected by a conductor IGI to one terminal of a timing condenser I63, the other terminal of which is connected to a timing resistor I65. The ohmic resistance of resistor I is on the order of 10 megohms, while the capacitance of condenser I63 is on the order of 6 microfarads. The connection between one terminal of condenser 1'63 and one terminal of resistor I65 is connected by a conductor I6! to contact arm 89, while contact arm 81 is connected by a conductor I59 to the other terminal of resistor I65. A small current limiting resistor I1 I, having an ohmic resistance on the order of 200 ohms, is connected between one terminal of the timing resistor I65 and a conductor I13, which is connected to the left hand terminal of the unit I5I. Conductor I13 is also connected to one terminal of the lower coil II9, while the other terminal of coil H9 is connected by a conductor II5 to conductor I6I.

It is therefore evident that when roller 8| engages cam surface 85 during its downward movement and causes engagement of the three cooper- 2,4151, see

ating pairs of contact arms hereinbefore mentioned, contact arms Si' and 93 will cause energization of. the four dry-type rectifier units I.5I'; contact arms 93, and 9.5 will cause energization of the, timing condenser I63 by the dry-type rectifier'unit I,5I; while contact arms 87 and 89 cause short circuiting of the timing resistor I65. The length of the cam surface 85 is made sufficient so that full charging of the condenser I63 is effected, and. assuming a source of supply of alternating current on the order of 115 volts condenser L63 will be charged to a voltage on the order of 150 volts.

Since the three pairs of contact arms, caused to engage by the engagement of roller 8I with cam surface 85, are disengaged as soon as the bread carriers have been moved into their toasting position, the toasting operation will be started with a fully charged condenser I63, which then discharges through the timing resistor I65, the resistor I1 I, as well as through coil I I9; The rate of decay of this current is according to a well known law and may bevaried, for a given initial voltage of condenser I 63, by variation in the total resistance through which itdischarges.

As has already been hereinbefore stated, the coil II carries a substantially constant current, determined by the position of movable contact arm I 4-5, and the value of this current is such that it will be impossible to cause movement of the armature core I2 3 during the time of the initial part of a toasting operation, when the current throughcoil H9 is relatively larg Sincethe air gap between the lower leg Ill and the lower arm of armature core I23 is substantially Zero, that is these two are in engagement with each other, the current through coil H5 must be relatively large in order to provide a sufiicient attractive force to attract armature I23, because its efiect is decreased by reason of the air gap betweenthe upper leg H3 and the armature core I23. By proper correlation of the value of, the voltage applied to the four dry-type rectifiers IEI, and of the other elements of the control system represented by Fig. 8, it will require on the, order of two and one-half to three minutes before the current traversing coil II9 and provided. by the condenser I63 becomes too small to be able to hol'dhook member 53, in engagement with bar LI, and as soon as coill I 5- causes a pivotal movement of armature core I23. in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings, hook member i3 will be disengaged from bar II, with resultant quick, upward movement of the bread carriers into non-toasting position.

The resistor I3I of the potentiometer has a high positive temperature c oeflicient of resistance, such as is provided by a nickel iron wire. Resistor I35 is made from wire having a substantially zero temperature coefficient of resistance, and the resistance of resistor I35 is made larger than the resistance of potentiometer I3I, so that a small increase in temperature of the potentiometer will result in a relatively large increase in voltage across coil I I5 If it be assumed that the position of contact arm I45 is that which will result in mediumv toast, it is only necessary to turn arm I,45.in a counter-clockwise direction to cause an increase in the duration of a toasting operation, with attendant increase in the color of the resulting toast, from say medium to dark. Conversely, is only necessary to cause turning; movement of contact arm I 45, in a. clockwise. direction to caus iqee eese e heleng h.art ste or altoastins rectifiers I81 and. I89,

6 operation and resultant'light instead of toast.

Since a change in temperature of the. toaster results because of, immediate succeeding toasting operations, with attendant darkening of the color of the toast, if the length of the toasting cycle remained constant, this condition also is taken care of by the fact that the. resistance of poten tiometer |3I has a positive temperature coeflicient of resistance which increases the voltage drop across that part of potentiometer I3 I effective to provide a voltage for the current traversing coil H5. Therefore, since the current through coil I I5 becomes larger; with increase of temperature of. the toaster, and therefore of the potentiometer I3I, the currenttraversing coil II-S. does not have to decay to as low a valueas would otherwise be the case, beforethe magnetomotive force of coil H5 is sufiicient to attract the armature core I23 and causev termination of the toasting operation,

This is shown, for instance, in Fig. ll of the drawings by curve I8.I, which curve shows the decay in the holding force of coil H9 expressed in terms ofthe voltage, the pull of coil. H5 being proportional to the square of the voltage. Thus medium it will take on the order of two minutes for the voltage to decrease to 5 volts, 1.4 minutes to decrease to 9 volts, 1.3 minutes to decrease to 10 Volts, and 1.2 minutes to decrease to 11 volts; so that the duration of a toasting operation with ncreas d tem e ature; i l; u s ant l he proportion indicated, with the result that when these elements are properly correlated, substantially uniform toasting of successive slices of bread will be obtained. I

Referring now to Fig; 9 of the drawings, I have there illustrated a modification of the diagram of Fig. 8 of the drawings, in which I provide a diagram of connections making it possible to charge two condensers to almost twice the voltage obtained by the diagram of Fig. 8, assuming the same value of supply circuit voltage in both cases, this permitting of obtaining a longer time delay, if desired or necessary. I provide two timing condensers I83 and I85 which are adapted to be energized by two individual half-wave dry-type In this diagram the first cooperating pair of contact arms 99 and 91- close the circuit to the two rectifiers through conductors I 51, and I9I. The other terminal of rectifier I8! is connected through a resistor I93 having an ohmic resistance on the order-of 200- ohms, the otherterminal of resistor I931 being connectedby a conductor I95 to contact arm 95, while contact arm 93 is connected: by a conductor I9'I to one.

terminal of the first timing condenser I83 and toone terminal of coil H9. The other terminal of the second rectifier I 89- is connected. to one terminal of a resistor I98 having an ohmic resistance on, the order of 200 ohms, the other terminal of which is connected by a conductor I93 to contact arm 81, while contact arm 89 is connected by a conductor 2M to the second terminal of thesecond timing condenser I85 and to one terminal of a timing resistor 203 which has an ohmic resistance on the order of 1G.

megohms.

The. other terminal of timing resistor 263 is connected by a conductor 285: to-theother termi nal of coil I I9.

The two timing condensers I83 and I85 are charged in inverted parallel relationship but cooperateto-be dischargedin series through timing resistor 2Il3sand coil II9 i Substantially thesame comments as made hereinbefore in connection with the diagram of Fl 8 apply also to Fig. 9.

In cases where it is desired to operate a toaster of this construction and provided with a timing circuit of the general kind hereinbefore described is to be used on relatively low voltage, the connections shown in Fig. of the drawings will be further useful. I provide a small radio-type transformer comprising a primary coil 2!], a secondary coil 213, and a laminated iron core 215. One terminal of primary coil 2 H is connected to conductor I49, while the other terminal is connected by a conductor 2!! with contact arm 9], so that upon engagement of contact arm 91 with contact arm 99, the secondary winding 2 [3 of the transformer will be energized and will energize a half-wave dry-type rectifier unit I51 having four rectifiers. The rectified D. C. voltage is connected, when contact arms 95 and 93 are in engagement with each other, to a timing condenser I63, while a timing resistor IE5 is short circuited by engagement of the contact arms 37 and 89 during the time that rolier 8| is in engagement with cam surface 85.

When a comparatively long time delay is desired and the timing resistor 455 is made very large, the current passing through coil H5 is very small, and sufficient energy is not available for satisfactory operating conditions of the detent mechanism; and I therefore provide a second electromagnetic latch release control by the electromagnetic differential detail hereinbefore described. Instead of directly operating the hook member 13, I connect a contact bridging member 219 to the upper arm of core 123, which, when core 123 is moved by coil H5, causes engagement of the contact bridging member 2i?) with fixed contacts 22l and 223 to thereby close a circuit through a coil 225 adapted to energize a mechanical core 22'! of the actual detent release means. Contact 223 is connected by a conductor 229 with conductor M9, while contact 22! connected to one terminal of coil 225, the other terminal of which is connected by a conductor 23l to fixed contact 189, which is connected by a conductor 39 to the other terminal of the toast heating elements 35. When contact bridging member 2|? is caused to engage contacts Hi and 223, an energizing circuit is established through coil 225 from the supply circuit conductors i3 2 and Iii, with attendant release of the bread carriers from the latch '53 and quick upward movement thereof into non-toasting position.

The same comments made hereinbefore in connection with compensation for changes of temperature of the toaster structure, so well as the desire of the operator for different degrees of toasting, apply equally well to the connections shown in Fig. 10, so that they will not be repeated here.

Variations in the voltage of the supply will also be taken care of to provide substantially the same degree of toasting desired. Thus, if the voltage of the supply circuit should be raised, the temperature of the heating elements 39 will also be increased to thereby cause greater toasting of a slice of bread in a given length of a toasting opoperation; but compensator I3! will also be heated to a higher temperature, with attendant increase in voltage applied to cOil I [5 of the differential relay, so that the holding force of coil H9 need not fall to as low a value to cause release of the latch and termination of a toasting operation. The converse conditions are present in case of decrease of the supply circuit voltage.

It is therefore evident that the three diagrams of connections shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10 disclose systems of timing for say an electric toaster, which is effective to provide an electromagnetic differential having two coils, one of which is traversed by a substantially constant, but adjustably variable current, while the other coil is traversed by an initially large current, decaying with time; and when the holding effect of the second coil is over-balanced or over-powered by the first coil, release of the holding means for the bread carriers is efiected, with quick upward movement thereof into non-toasting position.

Various other modifications may be made in the systems embodying my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and all such modifications clearly covered by the appended claims shall be considered a part of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an automatic electric toaster the combination with electric toast heating elements, a control switch for said heating elements biased to open position, movable means to cause closing of said switch to start a toasting operation and a latch to hold the switch in closed position, of means for terminating a toasting operation, comprising an electromagnetic differential relay having two oppositely acting coils for controlling said latch, means for energizing one coil with a current of substantially constant value comprising an adjustable potentiometer connected to the terminals of the heating elements and means for energizing the other coil b an initially large and then decaying current comprising at least one pair of half-wave dry-disc type rectifiers, a timing condenser, a timing resistor connected in series circuit with said timin condenser, means to energize said rectifiers momentarily during the movement of said movable means to fully charge said condenser, the condenser then discharging through said timing resistor and said other coil with an initially large and then decaying current, termination of a toasting operation and release of said latch occurring when the current traversing said other coil has reached a predetermined low value, said potentiometer having a positive temperature coefficient of resistance and being subject to heat from the toast heating elements to ensure that successively toasted slices of bread shall be uniformly toasted, irrespective of changes of temperature of the toaster.

2. In an automatic electric toaster the combination with electric toast heating elements adapted to be energized from an A. C. supply circuit, a switch for controlling said heating elements biased to open position, a movable member to cause closing of said switch to start a toasting operation and a latch for holding said switch in closed position, of means for terminating a toasting operation comprising an electromagnetic differential relay having two oppositely acting coils for controlling said latch, means for energizing one coil with an A. C. current of substantially fixed value comprising an adjustable potentiometer connected to said A. C. circuit and means for energizing the other coil by an initially large and then decaying direct current comprising a fullwave dry-disc type rectifier, a timing condenser, a timing resistor connected in series circuit with said timing condenser, means to energize said rectifiers momentaril during the movement of said movable member to fully charge the condenser, means to then cause discharge of the condenser through said timing resistor and said other coil with an initially large and then decaying current to cause release of said latch when the current traversing said other coil reaches a predetermined value, said adjustable potentiometer having a positive temperature ccefficient of resistance and being subject to heat from the toast heating elements to ensure that slices of bread toasted in quick succession shall be uniformly toasted, irrespective of changes of temperature of the toaster.

3. In an automatic electric toaster the combination with electric toast heating elements adapted to be energized from an A. C. supply circuit, a switch for controlling said heating elements biased to open position, a movable member to cause closing of said switch to start a toasting operation and a latch for holding said switch in closed position, of means for terminating a toasting operation comprising an electromagnetic differential relay having two oppositely acting coils for controlling said latch, means for energizing one coil with an A. C. current of substantially fixed value comprising an adjustable potentiometer connected to said A. C. circuit and means for energizing the other coil by an initially large and 25 said timing condenser, means to energize said rectifier-s momentarily during the movement of said movable member to fully charge the condenser, means to then cause discharge of the condenser through said timing resistor and said other coil with an initially large and then decaying current to cause release of said latch when the current traversing said other coil reaches a predetermined value, said adjustable potentiometer having a positive temperature coeflicient of resistance and being subject to heat from the toast heating elements to ensure that successive slices of bread shall be toasted uniformly, irrespective of different voltages of the supply circuit.

BROR G. OLVING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,061,011 Vingerhoets .d Nov. 17, 1936 2,207,946 Sardeson July 16, 1940 2,317,228 Shroyer Apr. 20, 1943 2,364,998 Palmer et a1 Dec. 12, 1944 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,451,508. October 19, 1948.

BROR G. OLVING It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 7, line 61, after supply insert circuit; line 67, strike out opand that the said Letters Patent should be read With these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of March, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of P'dtents.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,451,508. October 19, 1948. BROR G. OLVIN G It is hereby certified that errors appear in numbered pate the printed specification of the above nt requiring correction as follows:

insert circuit,- line 67, strike out op-;

e read With these corrections therein that 0 the record of he case in the Patent Office.

zssz'oner of Plitents. 

